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THE 

EXAMINATION 
HANDBOOK 




State of West Virginia 
Department of Free Schools 

Charleston 
1915. 



rnmuNE pmNTiNa CO., cHXRLesTON, w. va. 



IVsi^ UI^T^x^v^^-^^^fct^ ch/^.f^Jutu^c&Xl 



THE 

Examination Handbook 

Giving the Provisions 
for the 

Certification of Teachers 

and the Issuing of 

Elementary Diplomas 



M. p. SHAWKEY 

State Superintendent 

GEORGE E. HUBBS 

Supervisor of Examinations 



State of West Virginia 

Department of Free Schools 

Charleston 

1915 






t'eb. 


',- 


Mar. 


2r,-26 


May 


IS-IJ, 


April 


1- 2 



EXAMINATION DATES FOR 1915. 

First Test for Elementary Diplomas. 
Sec6nd Test for Elementary Diplomas. 
Third Test for Elementary Diplomas. 
Examination for Elementary, Renewal 
and Primary Certificates. 
June S- -'/ Examination for Elementary, Renewal, 
High School, Primary, Supervisor's 
and Special Certificates. 
July 22-23 Examination for Elementary, Renewal, 
High School, Primary, Supervisor's 
and Special Certificates. 
In making inquiry about examinations, always 
state the date and county and toitm in which the 
examination referred to was held. 



D, of D^ 
ilAR^ ids 



^ -Department of free schools. 



M. P. SHAWKEY, 
State Superintendent. 

GEO. E. HUBBS, 
Supervisor of Examinations. 

L. L. FRIEND, 
Supervisor of High Scliools. 

L. J. HANIFAN, 
Supervisor of Rural Scliools. 

M. J. ABBEY, 

Supervisor of Agricultural Education. 

W. C. GIST, 
Publications and Correspondence. 

JOHN L. RAMSEY, 
Supplies and Shipping. 

EVELYN V. BROWN, 
Statistics and Accounts. 

LILLIAN CARVER, 
Examination Clerk. 

LAURA CHAMBERS, 
Stenographer. 

R. A. LEE, 
Clerk. 



J. F. MARSH, 
Secretary to State Board of Regents. 



STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

MORRIS P. SHAWKEY, State Supt. of Schools, 
President, Member ex-ofRcio. 

WALTER BARNES, Fairmont, First District. Term 
expires May 30, 1918. 

J. N. DEAHL, Morgantown, Second District. Term 

expires May 30, 1917. 
H. F. FLESHMAN, Hinton, Third District. Term 

expires May 30, 1915. 

J. D. GARRISON, Secretary, Middlebourne, Fourth 
District. Term expires May 30, 1919. 

C. R. MURRAY, Williamson, Fifth District. Term 
expires May 30, 1916. 



I-h^TRODVCTION. 

This edition of the Examination Handbook con- 
tains a statement of the legal requirements for all 
teachers' certificates issued in the state. By the 
acts of the legislature of 1915 the general provisions 
for the certification of teachers have been consider- 
ably revised and in this handbook will be found a 
statement of the most important revisions. 

It will be noted that the state board of education 
is authorized to spesify most of the conditions for 
the issuance of certificates upon graduation or other 
credentials. These conditions, so far as they can be 
made general, will be published as soon as the board 
has had time to give the matter consideration. 

Persons desiring information concerning certifi- 
cates upon graduation should write to the secretary 
of the state board of education, Prin. J. D. Garrison, 
Middlebourne, W. Va. Information concerning ex- 
aminations may be obtained from the state superin- 
tendent. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

(Extracts from the School Law.) 
Section 57. No person shall be employed to teach 
In a free school of this state until he has presented 
to the board of education having charge thereof, a 
valid teacher's certificate which shall be filed until 
the close of the school term with the secretary of 
the board of education of the district wherein said 
school is situated, and so endorsed by the secretary, 
and no salary shall be paid to any teacher unless 
such certificate be so filed. 

Subjects Taught. 

Section 78. In the free schools of this state there 
shall be taught reading, orthography, penmanship, 
arithmetic, English grammar and language. United 
States and West Virginia history, general and West 
Virginia geography, civil government, agriculture, 
physiology and hygiene, and in connection therewith 
the nature of alcholic drinks and narcotics, with 
special instruction as to their effect upon the human 
system; and in addition thereto in high schools, such 
other subjects as may be required in the course of 
study prescribed by the state board of education; 
Provided, that the board of education of any district 
or independent district or any county high school 
board may establish in the elementary or high 
schools under their control, schools, departments, or 
classes for the teaching of manual training, home 



economics, agriculture, commercial subjects and such 
other industrial and vocational subjects as they may 
determine, and maintain the same from the school 
funds of their district or county. Said board of 
education or county high school board may at their 
discretion provide for the continuance of such indus- 
trial and vocational instruction beyond the regular 
school term. • 

Examination and Certification of Teachers. 
Section 80. No person shall be employed to teach 
in the free schools of this state or shall receive for 
teaching any part of any free school fund who is not 
of good moral character and physically and mentally 
qualified to perform the duties of a teacher, who has 
not attained the age of eighteen years on or before 
the first day of September of the year in which his 
certificate was issued, and who does not at the time 
he enters upon his duty hold a valid teacher's certifi- 
cate covering the period of his employment. 

KINDS OF CERTIFICATES. 
The acts of the legislature of 1915 provide for the 
issuance, by the state superintendent of schools, of 
the following certificates: 



1. 


Elementary. 


2. 


Short Course. 


3. 


Normal School. 


4. 


High School. 


5. 


Supervisor's. 


6. 


Special. 




a. Kindergarten. 




b. Primary. 




e. Music. 




d. Drawing. 




e. Physical Training. 




f. Home Economics. 




g. Manual Training. 




h. Agriculture. 


(Special certificates in other subjects may be added 


as the needs of the schools may require.) 


7. 


State Life. 



ELEMENTARY. 
(Upon examination only.) 
There are three grades of elementary certificates, 
namely, the first, second and third. Applicants for 
the elementary certificates are required to pass a 
satisfactory examination on the following eleven sub- 
jects: 



Orthography, Reading, Penmanship, Arithmetic, 
English Grammar and Language, Physiology and 
Hygiene, United States and West Virginia History, 
Geography, Civil Government, Agriculture, Theory 
and Art of Teaching. 

The required average and minimum per cent and 
the minimum salary for each grade are as follows: 

First Grade. Average, 90 per cent; minimum, 75 
per cent; minimum salary, $50.00 per month. Renew- 
able for five-year periods. (For full information 
concerning the renewal of this certificate, see page 10) 

Second Grade. Average, 80 per cent; minimum 68 
per cent. Not renewable. Minimum salary, $40.00 
per month. 

Third Grade. Average, 70 per cent; minimum, 60 
per cent. Not renewable and cannot be issued more 
than two years in succession to the same person. 
Minimum salary, $30.00 per month. 

First grade elementary certificates are valid in all 
the schools of the state; second grade, and third 
grade elementary certificates are valid in all the 
grades of the elementary schools, but no person shall 
be employed as principal of any school who does not 
hold a first grade certificate or its equivalent. 

(2) SHORT COURSE. 

(Not issued upon examination.) 
The short course certificate is issued to those who 
have completed the short course in the normal 
schools of the state, the normal training course in 
high schools of the state that have been approved 
by the state board of education, and to those who 
have completed in other schools of the state a course 
of study that is, in the judgment of the state board 
of education, equivalent to the short course offered 
in the normal schools. 

This certificate is valid for three years and may 
be renewed once; it is equivalent tp a first grade cer- 
tificate in the payment of salaries and is valid in all 
the grades of the elementary schools. 

For information concerning the renewal of this 
certificate see page 11. 

(3) NORMAL SCHOOL. 

(Not issued upon examination.) 
The normal school certificate, valid for five years,, 
is issued to graduates in the diploma course of the 
state normal school and its branches, to graduates in 
the diploma course of the "West Virginia Collegiate 
Institute, and to those who have completed a diploma 



course of study in any other school of this or otlier 
states that, in the judgment of the state board of 
education, is equivalent in all respects to the diploma 
course of study in the state normal school and its 
branches. Normal school certificates are valid in all 
the grades of the elementary schools of the state and 
in high schools, and in the payment of salaries and 
renewal are considered as first grade certificates. 

The application blank for this certificate may be 
obtained irom the state superintendent, or the princi- 
pal of the school from which the applicant has 
graduated. 

(4) HIGH SCHOOL. 
(Upon examination.) 

Average at least 85 per cent., no grade below 65 
per cent., valid in elementary schools as well as in 
high schools; valid for five years and renewable for 
five year periods provided the applicant has taught 
three years during the preceding five year period. 
(For full information concerning the renewal of this 
certificate see page 12.) 

For the high school certificate the five following 
groups of subjects have been prescribed from which 
ten branches shall be chosen, four by the State Board 
of Education and six by the applicant: 

Professional Suhjects. (1) Educational Phychol- 
ogy and Method; (2) History of Education and 
School Management. 

English and History. (1) Rhetoric and Composi- 
tion; (2) English and American Literature; (3) 
American History and Civics; (4) English History; 
(5) Ancient History and Mediaeval History. 

Langxtage. (1) Latin — through Virgil; (2) Greek 
— through Xenophon; (3) German — two years; (4) 
French — two years. 

Mathematics. (1) Algebra; (2) Plane Geometry; 
(3) Solid Geometry; (4) Trigonometry. 

Science. (1) Physics; (2) Chemistry; (3) Physi- 
cal Geography and Elementary Geology; (4) Bot- 
any; (5) Agriculture; (6) Zoology; (7) Physiology. 

The four required subjects are: 

(1) Educational Psychology and Method; 

(2) History of Education and School Manage- 

ment; 

(3) Rhetoric and Composition; 

(4) Literature — English and American. 

The remaining six branches may be chosen by the 
applicant from the list given. 
Examinations for this certificate will be offered 



in connection with the second and third uniform 
examinations of the year. Questions for these ex- 
aminations will be sent to those counties only in 
which there are applicants, and persons intending 
to take this examination should notify the county 
superintendent at least three weeks in advance of 
the examination. 

(Upon graduation.) 

The high school certificate is issued to graduates 
of the West Virginia University and to graduates of 
other colleges and universities of this and other states 
who have completed courses of study equivalent to 
the courses offered by the West Virginia University, 
but each applicant for a certificate upon graduation 
must have not less than twenty semester hours in 
education. This certificate shows the subject or sub- 
jects the holder is especially qualified to teach. 

Applicants for the high school certificate upon 
graduation should secure an application blank from 
the state superintendent or from the secretary of the 
State Board of Education, Prin. J. D. Garrison, Mid- 
dlebourne, W. Va. 

(5) SUPERVISOR'S. 

(Upon examination.) 

The supervisor's certificate, valid for five years and 
renewable for five-year periods, is issued to persons 
who have taught not less than three years on a first 
grade certificate, and who pass a satisfactory examina- 
tion upon a list of subjects designated by the state 
board of education. This list will be prepared in 
time that questions may be submitted in the June 
and July examinations. 

(Upon graduation.) 

This certificate is issued to persons who have taught 
not less than three years on a first grade certificate 
or its equivalent and who are graduates of 
the state university, the normal schools or other 
schools of the state approved by the state board of 
education. Applicants for this certificate upon gradu- 
ation must have had not less than twenty semester 
hours in education, at least five of which have been 
in school supervision. Persons entitled to receive this 
certificate upon graduation may obtain the necessary 
application blank from the state superintendent or 
the secretary of the state board of education, Prin. 
J. D. Garrison, Middlebourne, W. Va. 

(6) SPECIAL. 
The Special certificate is issued to kindergarten 



9 

t3achers, primary teachers, and special teachers and 
supervisors of music, drawing, physical training, 
home economics, manual training, agriculture, and 
special teachers of such other subjects as the needs 
of the schools may require. It may be issued upon 
examination or upon the satisfactory completion of 
such courses of study as the state board of education 
may approve. It is valid for the teaching of the 
special subject designated and in the payment of 
salaries is considered as a first grade certificate. 

Applicants for this certificate should give their 
county superintendent not less than thirty days' 
notice of their intention to take the examination, 
indicating the kind of certificate for which they will 
apply. 

(7) HTATE LIFE. 

The State life certificate is issued to persons who 
have taught on a first grade certificate or its equiva- 
lent for a period of ten years, or who have been 
otherwise actively engaged in school work for a like 
period while holding such certificate, and who have 
shown superior ability or marked progress in their 
work. This certificate is valid in all the schools of 
the state and is equivalent to a first grade certifi- 
cate in payment of salaries. ■ 

(8) EMERGENCY. 

The Legislature of 1911 enacted a law providing 
for the issuance of emergency certificates. The con- 
ditions under which these cer'ificates may be issued 
can best be expressed by quoting the law providing 
for them. 

"Sec. 94. Upon the request of the county super- 
intendent of schools of any county the state super- 
intendent of schools may issue emergency certifi- 
cates, under such regulations as shall be prescribed 
by the State Board of Education, to persons who 
were unable to take any of the regular examinations 
for reasons that shall be fully explained under oath 
to the State Superintendent of Schools. For such 
emergency certificates a fee of $1.50 shall be paid 
to the County Superintendent of Schools, who shall 
deposit the same with the Auditor to be credited to 
the general school fund. Such certificate shall not 
be issued more than once to the same person and 
shall be valid only in the county designated in the 
certificate and shall not be valid after June thirtieth, 
following the issuance of the certificate. The grade 
of such certificate shall be determined by the State 



10 

Superintendent of Schools and shall be indicated on 
the face of the certificate." 

This certificate is issued to graduates of standard 
colleges or normal schools and to those who pass a 
special examination provided for by the state board 
of education. It will not be issued to persons who 
have failed in the regular examinations or to those 
who have failed to take the examination without 
sufficient cause. It is expected that it will be used 
only in rare instances for the benefit of those who 
come from other states after the regular examina- 
tion season has closed and for a few who for good 
and sufficient reasons have not taken the examina- 
tion. 

RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES. 

By the acts of the legislature of 1915, the issuance 
of graded school certificates and professional certifi- 
cates is discontinued, but all such certificates now in 
force will be valid for full time for which they were 
issued. First grade graded school certificates and 
professional certificates may, upon their expiration, 
be changed into new forms of certificates if renewal 
requirements now in force are met. Graded school 
certificates will be renewed as elementary certifi- 
cates and professional certificates may be changed 
into high school, supervisor's, or state life certifi- 
cates in accordance with conditions specified by the 
State Board of Education. 

First grade elementary certificates are renewable 
under the following conditions: 

For first renewal the applicant must have taught 
three years of the previous five-year period. 

For second or third renewal the applicant must 
have taught three years of the previous five-year 
period, dnd must pass a satisfactory examination 
on two of the teachers' reading circle books. 

Applicants for second renewal in 1915 will be re- 
quired to pass an examination on the State Course 
of Study with Charters' "Teaching the Common 
Branches" and Barnes' "English in the Country 
Schools; or 

In lieu of the examination on the reading circle 
books must satisfactorily complete, within the life 
of the certificate or the year immediately following 
its expiration, a six weeks' term in the State Uni- 
versity or one of the State Normal Schools, or any 
private or denominational school recognized by the 
State Board of Education or any other approved 
school. This work shall be of a substantial char- 



~ 11 — 

acter and enough, of it to count for full time for a 
third of a semester or six weeks and should be such, 
that the school attended would accept it on a course 
of some kind towards graduation. 

The grades on the. reading circle books must be at 
least 75 per cent., and must be high enough to main- 
tain a general average of at least 90 per cent, in 
order to secure a renewal as a first grade certificate. 
Persons whose grades are not high enough to secure 
the renewal of their certificates as first grades may 
have them renewed as second grade certificates, pro- 
vided no grade is below 68 per cent., the minimum 
allowed by law for second grade certificates. 

The applicant for renewal may take the examina- 
tion in any county, but the application should be 
signed by the county superintendent of the county 
in which the certificate was originally issued or by 
the superintendent of the county in which the ap- 
plicant has taught not less than three years. Tine 
original certificate accompanied by this application 
must be sent to the Department of Schools. A certifi- 
cate submitted for renewal must bear proper endorse- 
ments showing that the holder has taught not less 
than three years thereon; but a full year's work in 
a standard college or normal school or other school 
approved by the state board of education, done dur- 
ing the life of the certificate or within the year im- 
mediately following its expiration, shall be considered 
as the equivalent of one year's teaching on the certifi- 
cate. This provision applies to any or all of the 
years for which the certificate is in force. 
" Applicants for renewal may take examination in 
any or all of the subjects listed on the certificate 
with a view to raising the grade on any subject. 

The application for the renewal of a certificate 
must be made within one year from the date of its 
expiration. 

Any short course certificate may be renewed, upon 
its expiration, for one period of three years if the 
holder has taught two years of the previous three 
year period or has done two year's credit work in 
an approved high school or standard normal school 
or other school approved by the state board of educa- 
tion. School work submitted in lieu of teaching on 
this certificate must be done within the life of the 
certifir"*o. 

Normal school certificates, if renewed as such, are 
subject to the same regulations as elementary certifi- 
cates. (See renewal of elementary certificates). 
Any normal school certificate may be changed into a 



- 12 

supervisor's certificate if the holder has taught three 
years on a first grade certificate or its equivalent 
and has credit in some approved school for twenty 
semester hours in education, five of which hours are 
in school supervision. Persons desiring the renewal 
of normal school certificates shoulu apply to their 
county superintendent or the state superintendent 
for the blank application; if the certificate is to be 
changed into a supervisor's certificate the blank ap- 
plication may be secured from the state superinten- 
dent or the secretary of the state board of education, 
Prin. J. D. Garrison, Middlebourne, W. Va. 

Any high school certificate, shall upon its expira- 
tion or within the year immediately following, be 
renewable for five-year periods thereafter if the, 
holder thereof has taught successfully or has beei 
otherwise actively engaged in public school work for 
three years of each five-year period on said certifi- 
cate. At the termination of the third renewal period 
the holder of such certificate shall be eligible to re- 
ceive a high school certificate valid for life, if he 
has taught or been otherwise actively engaged in 
public school work for not less than three years of 
the last five and has maintained an active interest 
in school work. 

Any supervisor's certificate shall, upon its expira- 
tion or within the year immediately following, be 
renewable for five-year periods thereafter, if the 
holder shall have been actively engaged in public 
school work for not less than three years of each five- 
year period, and upon such other conditions as the 
state board of education shall prescribe. 

Any special certificate shall, upon its expiration 
or within the year immediately following, be renew- 
able for five-year periods, if the holder thereof has 
taught successfully or has been otherwise engaged 
in public school work for three years of each five- 
year period of the life of the certificate, and upon 
such other conditions as the state board of education 
shall prescribe. 

EXAMINATION FEES. 

Each applicant upon taking his first examination 
of the year shall pay to the county superintendent 
a fee of one dollar and fifty cents. Any applicant 
having passed one examination may take subsequent 
examinations of the year upon payment of the full 
fee for taking more than half the subjects, or one- 
half the regular fee for taking a part of the subjects 
not to exceed one-half. 

The fee for the privilege of taking the examination 



13 

for renewal in the applicant's second or third exami- 
nation for the year is 75 cents. 

The fee for the emergency certificate is $1.50. 

All applicants for certificates upon graduation or 
other credentials shall each pay a fee of one dollar 
to the state superintendent of schools, to be trans- 
mitted to the Auditor. 

THE PURPOSE OF THE EXAMINATION. 

(a) The primary purpose of the uniform examina- 
tion is to determine who shall have the right to teach 
in the public schools of the state. In this capacity 
the examination stands as the guardian of the chil- 
dren in West Virginia. It shall be the aim of the 
examinations not only to determine the teacher's 
scholarship but to find out whether he knows a sub- 
ject from a teacher's standpoint — whether he has a 
body of professional knowledge about each branch 
of study. Each teacher should have definite ideas 
as to the teaching of each one of the common school 
subjects. 

(b) Another use to which the examinations are 
put is that of spurring teachers "to academic and 
professional growth. Occasionally a question will 
be used that requires knowledge beyond the ordinary 
text book. The examination will cause the applicant 
who has depended upon the narrow cramming process 
to feel keenly his limitations. Those who prepare 
the questions and grade the manuscripts will hold 
applicants responsible for a reasonable knowledge 
of the educational movements in the state — knowl- 
edge gathered from institutes, publications by the 
Department of Schools and the Reading Circle Books. 

(c) The examination questions are also designed 
to point teachers to essential facts and methods in 
teaching. 

HOW TO TAKE AN EXAMINATION. 

First: The applicant should be on hand promptly 
at the hour appointed for the beginning of the ex- 
amination and quietly take the seat assigned him by 
the examiners. Each applicant must furnish his 
own pens and holders, ink and pencils. Care should 
be exercised in choosing these materials. Not infre- 
quently applicants use pens which are not at ak 
suited to rapid writing and in that way get behind 
in their work. Applicants should read carefully and 
answer correctly every question on their part of the 
enrollment card. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 

Second: Read carefully the instructions to appli- 



14 

cants and be prepared to comply cheerfully with 
all the rules and regulations. Do not ask the ex- 
aminers to make any exceptions in your case for 
they have no authority to do so. 

Third: When the questions are distributed, each 
applicant should read carefully the whole list of 
questions on the subject and decide which questions 
he will try to answer and mark them. If ten an- 
swers are required, the first ten will be counted anc 
no attention will be paid to the extra answers. If 
five are required, only the first five will be counted 
and so on. Applicants must decide which questions 
they will answer. 

Fourth: Many applicants fail to receive certifi- 
cates because they omit answers or parts of answers. 
After you have answered a question, read the ques- 
tion over again and then read your answer and see if 
all the essential points have been covered. 

Fifth: The form of the manuscripts — neatness, 
paragraphing, language, punctuation, and spelling — 
has some effect on the value of the answers on 
all the subjects. The answers should be separated 
from each other, by two or three blank lines anr 
should be numbered in the middle of the page. 
The blank space at the top of each page should 
be filled out and the pages numbered. On the bad, 
of the last page the following items should be given: 

Name 

Subject 

Address 

Date 

Sixth: When the examiners have announced that 
the time is up, hand in your manuscript without 
delay. Do not ask for more time, as the examiners 
are instructed not to accept manuscripts which are 
not handed in on time. 

GRADES AND GRADING. 
(a) The grading board consists of fourteen to 
eighteen members appointed by the State Superin 
tendent of Schools. A new board is appointed for 
each examination, but. several of the graders are 
re-appointed in order to secure more uniformity. 
The members range in attainments from first grade 
teachers to college professors. In choosing this 
board, the aim is to secure graders who thoroughly 
understand school conditions in this state; who arc 
broad-minaea and unbiased in judgment, and whose 
standing and attainments will bring confidence to 
the applicants and dignity to the system. 



i5 

(b) Training graders. Before beginning the 
regular work, the graders meet for instructions and 
drill. When the graders are assembled with the 
State Superintendent and his assistants, the Superin- 
tendent takes up a manuscript at random and reads 
an answer. All the members then silently record a 
grade. When the grades on that answer are reported, 
the merits of the answer are discussed and some uni- 
form standard established for similar answers. This 
training continues through the various subjects for 
about one day. Then the graders are instructed and 
set to work. 

(c) Further precaution. The Supervisor of Ex- 
aminations continues to consult with the different 
graders until a uniform standard is well established, 
ft is his special duty during the grading to see that 
graders do not grow careless or lose sight of the 
original standard. The graders consult him in re- 
gard to the value of unusual answers. 

(f) An applicant may take all or a part of the 
subjects in each examination, but he must pay the 
full fee for the first examination he enters during 
the year, regardless of the number of subjects h( 
wishes to take. In subsequent examinations of the 
same year he may take six subjects or fewer by 
paying one-half the fee. If hiore than six sub- 
jects are taken the full fee is required. 

REVIEWING GRADES. 

After nearly every examination there are some 
applicants who complain that they were not given 
as high grades as their manuscripts deserve. So 
far as possible graders will review the manuscripts 
when requested so to do, but experience shows that 
in a great majority of cases such reviews are fruit- 
less. Occasionally a clerical error is found, how- 
ever, and when found is corrected most cheerfully. 
Naturally persons differ in judgment about the value 
of answers, but when the board of graders, consti- 
tuted as it is of experienced educators, determines 
the standard by which the answers shall be graded, 
it would be improper for the State Superintendent 
to make changes in individual cases, and he will 
not undertake to do so. 

If an applicant is convinced that there is any 
serious error in the grading of his papers his claim 
will be presented to a special review committee 
whose judgment in the matter shall be final. For 
the present year Superintendent H. F. Fleshman, 
of Hinton, Principal H. C. Robertson of the Tiskel- 



16 

wah School, Charleston, and Miss Lucy E. Prichard, 
of Huntington, will constitute the review committee. 
This committee will meet after the close of the 
examination season to consider applications of those 
who wish their papers reviewed and a statement of 
grades or a certificate will be made in conformity 
fe the report of this committee. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 
An examination system directly affecting the in- 
terests of so many naturally makes necessary much 
':;orrespondence. The following suggestions are made 
with the hope that those who read them may make 
their inquiries more effective. 

(a) In making inquiry about examinations, al- 
ways state the date and the county and ioirn in which 
the examination referred to was held. 

(b) While the Department of Schools is ever 
ready to serve the teachers directly, it can generally 
serve them in a more satisfactory way through the 
county superintendent, hence the teachers should 
first correspond with him, then if necessary the case 
can be referred to the Department of Schools. 

(c) Do not ask for grades until the regular report 
is made. To answer such requests means endless 
trouble and much delay in preparing the grades of 
the patient thousands who wait. 

(d) It is a waste of time to ask for a raise in 
grade as the request is never granted. 

(e) To accuse those who grade the manuscripts 
and make up the certificates of intentional unfair- 
ness is bad professional taste. Constant effort is 
made to be fair and just to all, and the teachers in 
their correspondence should recognize this. 

(f) Teachers should form the habit of using 
business-size stationery and pen and ink for cor- 
respondence of this nature. 

(g) Letters written by teachers should be exactly 
correct in form, spelling and grammatical construc- 
tion, and should be brief and to the point. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS 
The efficiency of the examination depends, in large 
measure, upon the care and judgment exercised by 
the County Superintendents and their assistants. 

By reference to other pages. County Superinten- 
dents will find answers to most questions concerning 
examinations. 

(a) County Superintendents should see that ample 
notice is given with reference to the times and places 
of holding the examinations. 



17 

(b) The clay before the examination the County 
Superintendent should have the examination rooms 
thoroughly cleaned. All books and papers must be 
removed from the desks. If possible, vacant seats 
should separate each applicant from other applicants. 

(c) The enrollment should be completed before 
the time arrives for the examination to begin. The 
county superintendent and his assistants should have 
a note of any announcements or regulations to which 
they wish to call attention. These should be an- 
nounced promptly and briefly as too much talking on 
the part of officials is a nuisance. 

(d) No applicant from another county who does 
not have loritten permission from the county super- 
intendent of the county in lohich he resides should 
he admitted to the examination. If the applicant 
is unknown to the county superintendent and his 
assistants further proof of his identity may be re 
quired and if there be any doubt as to his character 
the county superintendent should make a thorough 
investigation before making a favorable recommenda- 
tion. 

(e) Care should be taken to see that no one out- 
side the room gets a list of the questions. The 
opened packages of questions should be guarded 
very carefully. Any applicant who expresses a de- 
sire to take the examination on any subject and 
thus secures a list of questions, must remain in the 
room until the examination on that subject is finished 
unless excused by those in charge. In no case should 
an applicant he alloived to hegin a subject after an- 
other applicant has heen excused. 

(f) If the list of questions on some subject seems 
long or unreasonable, the county superintendent and 
the assistants have no right to make any allowance 
on this account, as the Department of Schools will 
adjust such matters. The time limit and other 
regulations must be carefully observed regardless of 
consequences. 

(g) Care should be taken to see that all manu- 
scripts are handed in before the package is sealed 
as no credit will be allowed on manuscripts found 
in the wrong package. 

(h) No questions on any suhject shall be given 
out until all manuscripts in the preceding subject 
have been collected. The manuscripts in each subject 
should be placed in separate envelopes and sealed 
immediately after they have been collected, and the 
blanks on each separate package of manuscripts 
should be filled out according to directions. When 



18 

the package of manuscripts is sent to the Depart- 
ment, the name and address of the sender should be 
written plainly on the outside of the package. 

(i) If there is more than one examination in the 
county, the manuscripts for each should be wrapped 
separately, and the place of holding the examina- 
tion written plainly on the wrapper of each package. 

(j) County Superintendents should see that an 
ample supply of examination paper is provided for 
each examination. A supply sufficient for all the 
examinations of the season is sent out each spring 
and those in charge of the examinations should see 
that this paper is not wasted. 

(k) No person who is or has been connected with 
any school tohose students are applicants in the 
examination viay he appointed as an assistant in 
the examination. 

(1) While most of our teachers are honest, there 
may be some one in the room who wishes to use un- 
fair means in taking the examination. It is due the 
honest teachers that those in authority be on con- 
stant guard to detect such unfairness. When an 
applicant is caught cheating, he should be dealt with 
promptly, quietly and firmly. 

Attempts on the part of an applicant to communi- 
cate or copy or to use books or helps is sufficient 
cause for his irnmediate dismissal from the exami- 
nation. 

(m) In filling out his part of the enrollment card, 
the county superintendent should mark plainly his 
grades on theory and art. If he wishes to give an 
applicant no grade on that subject, he should place a 
cipher (0) in the blank to indicate his grade. Ap- 
plicants should be instructed to read carefully and 
answer correctly every question on their part of the 
enrollment card. The county superintendent should 
inspect the enrollment cards of all applicants and 
make sure that all questions have been answered. 

These cards should be arranged alphabetically for 
each separate examination and mailed promptly. 

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE. 
The schedule given below indicates the order of 
subjects and the time allotment for each subject. 
These must be adhered to without any variation or 
change. The hours given in the left hand column 
are intended merely as a suggestion. In some coun- 
ties conditions may make it advisable to begin the 
examinations either earlier or later than is here 
Indicated: 



19 

THURSDAY FORENOON. 
8:00 — 8:15. Assigning seats to applicants, 

announcements, etc., i/4 hr. 

8:15—10:00 History, 1% hr. 

10:00—12:00. Arithmetic, 2 hr. 

AFTERNOON. 
1:00— 2:15. Civil Government, 
2:15— 4:15. Theory and Art, 
4:15 — 5:30. Physiology, 







FRIDAY FORENOON. 


7:45- 


- 9:45. 


Grammar, 


9:45- 


-11:15. 


Agriculture, 


11:15- 


-12:00. 


Orthography, 

AFTERNOON. 


1:00- 


- 1:30. 


Penmanship, 


1:30- 


- 3:30. 


Reading, 


3:30- 


- 5:00. 


Geography, 



1% 


hr. 


2 


hr. 


1% 


hr. 


2 


hr. 


ly. 


hr. 


% 


hr. 


y2 


hr. 


2 


hr. 


11/2 


hr. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 

The county superintendent' s grade on theory and 
art. Many teachers seem to have the erroneous idea 
that the county superintendent must give 20 per cent 
on theory and art. He may give the full 20 per cent 
if he considers the applicant perfect on that subject. 
This grade, ranging from nothing to tvi^enty per cent 
is determined by the teacher's work in the school 
room, his personality, his interest in educational 
meetings, reading circles and other means of profes 
sional improvement. 

Cheating in examinations. According to one of 
the rules regulating examinations, any applicant 
caught in the act of trying to use unfair means will 
be dismissed from the examination room. If plain 
evidence of cheating is found in the manuscripts 
of an applicant no certificate will be issued to him. 
Evidence of cheating in one subject will cause the 
grades on all subjects to be cancelled. Any one 
guilty of tampering with examination questions, or 
using an assumed name will be dealt with according 
to Sec. 95 of the new School Law. 

Recommendations. Special recommendations and 
"pulls" will in no way affect the grades of an appli- 
cant as all manuscripts' are graded Avith reference 
only to what the manuscripts contain. 

Writing of Certificates. The successful applicants 
in the first and second examinations will receive 
statements showing their grades in each subject, 
their average grade and the grade of certificate to 
which they are entitled. The certificates will not 
be written until after the third examination. All 
the certificates will then contain the highest grades 
made by the applicants during the examination sea- 
son. This will remove the necessity for the return 
of certificates on account of receiving certificates 



20 

of higher grades at the later examinations and 
will simplify the matter of keeping records both 
in the offices of the county superintendents and 
in the office of the State Superintendent. However, 
if a teacher wishes to contract for a school tefore 
his certificate is received he may present to the 
bo.ard of education his official statement showing 
the grade of certificate to v/hich he is entitled and 
this will be sufficient evidence to enable the board 
to accept his contract. 

Sending out Reports. For the purpose of sending 
out the reports of the examination the state has 
been divided into three sections. In the three exami- 
nations the order of sending out the reports will be 
so arranged as to bring each section first in one 
examination, second in another and third in the 
other. The counties comprising the different sec- 
tions and the order in which the reports will be 
sent out are as follows: 

Eastern section: Barbour, Berkeley, Grant, Hamp- 
shire, Hardy, Harrison, Jefferson, Marion, Mineral, 
Monongalia, Morgan, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, 
Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur. Second in the 
April examination, first in the June examination 
and third in the July examination. 

Middle section: Braxton, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, 
Doddridge, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Hancock, Lewis, Mar- 
shall, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Web- 
ster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood. First in the April exam- 
ination, third in the June examination and second 
in the July examination. 

Southwestern section: Boone, Cabell, Fayette, 
Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mercer, 
Mingo, Monroe, McDowell, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, 
Summers, Wayne, Wyoming. Third in the April 
examination, second in the June examination and 
first in the July examination. 

Lost Certificate. If a certificate is lost or de- 
stroyed, the holder thereof should write to the State 
Superintendent, Charleston, W. Va., requesting a 
blank form upon which to make application for a 
duplicate of the certificate which was lost or de- 
stroyed. Upon return of this affidavit in proper form 
the State Superintendent will reissue the certificate. 

Recontracti7ig. If a teacher contracts with the 
trustees of a school or with the board of education 
on a certain grade of certificate and at a later ex- 
amination receives a higher grade of certificate, he 
cannot compel the trustees or board of education to 
re-contract with him, unless there was a previous 
agreement to that effect. Hov/ever, the board has 
the authority to make new contracts with teachers 
if they have sufficient funds at their disposal to 
warrant them in doing so. Unless the board of educa- 
tion accepts and files the new contract, the teacher 
cannot compel them to pay the salary for the higher 
grade of certificate. Teachers ought to be willing to 
have the new contract begin with the beginning of a 
new school month. 



21 

THE ELEMENTARY DIPLOMA. 

LEGAL PROVISION. 

The school law prescribes definitely the courses 
of study that shall be pursued in the free schools 
of the state and makes further provisions for the 
granting of diplomas to such pupils as complete 
satisfactorily a prescribed course of study. Twenty- 
five thousand copies of the manual containing the 
courses of study have been distributed among the 
teachers and school officers of the state and abundant 
material to enable the teachers to carry out the said 
courses of study has been provided so that it can 
be safely said that there is no valid reason why 
every teacher in the state should not be follov/ing 
the prescribed course of study. 

The sections of the school law relating to these 
matters are given herewith. 

Section 78. In the free schools there shall be 
taught reading, orthography, penmanship, arithmetic, 
English grammar and language. United States and 
West Virginia history, general and state geography, 
civil government, agriculture, and physiology and 
hygiene, and in connection therewith the nature of 
alcoholic drinks and narcotics, with special instruc- 
tion as to their effect upon the human system, and 
in addition thereto in high schools such other sub- 
jects as may be required in the course of study pre- 
scribed by the state board of education. 

Section 19. It shall be the duty of the state 
superintendent of free schools to prepare and dis- 
tribute a manual containing the courses of study 
prescribed by the committee on course of study 
and such other matters as may seem necessary to 
enable teachers to carry out the said courses of 
study, and his further duty to see that the teachers 
in all the various schools follow the course of study 
so prescribed; he shall also provide for the ex- 
amination and graduation of pupils who satisfac- 
torily complete the said course of study, and shall 
issue diplomas thereto. 

This diploma may be secured by passing a satis- 
factory examination on the following subjects: 

Reading. 

Orthography. 

Penmanship. 

Arithmetic. 

English grammar and language. 

United States and West Virginia history. 

General and state geography. 

Civil government. 

Agriculture. 

Physiology and hygiene. 

The amount of preparation expected in each sub- 
ject is indicated in the manual containing the courses 
of study. 

DATES AND PLACES FOR HOLDING TESTS. 
The dates for holding the elementary diploma 
tests in 1915 are as follows: 

(1) Thursday and Friday, February 4-5. 

(2) Thursday and Friday, March 25-26. 

(3) 'Thursday and Friday, May 13-14. 



22 

The county superintendent at his option may 
hold tests on any or all of the above dates but it 
will be impossible for him to arrange for tests at any 
other time. It is also his duty to determine at how 
many places in the county the tests will be held. 
Usually, the tests are held in each district or at such 
central points as will accommodate the greatest 
number oi pupils. It is not necessary for the tests 
to interfere with the regular work of the school, and 
under no circumstances should the school be dis- 
missed for the purpose of holding the tests. If the 
teacher of the school at which a test is to be given 
cannot conduct the test, it would be well for the 
county superintendent to arrange for some capable 
and trustworthy citizen to take charge. The county 
superintendent should find out considerably in ad- 
vance of the test just where the pupils are who 
desire to take the tests and arrange suitable places 
accordingly. In no case should a pupil be deprived 
of the privilege of taking the test on account of the 
distance or inaccessibility of the place of the test. 

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE. 
The following schedule for the elementary diploma 
test has been prepared in the hope that it will be of 
some service to the county superintendents and 
teachers in conducting the tests. It may be advisable 
to change the program slightly in a few instances to 
adapt it to the local conditions, but in most cases 
some such program as the one given below will be 
found helpful. 

THURSDAY FORENOON. 
9:00— 9:15. Enrollment, etc. 
9:15—10:30. Geography 
10:30—12:00. Grammar. 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 
1:00 — 1:15. Penmanship 
1:15 — 2:45. Reading 
2:45— 4:00. History. 

FRIDAY FORENOON. 

9:00—10:30. Arithmetic 
10:30—11:30. Civil Government 
11:30—12:00. Spelling. 

FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 
1:00— 2:00. Agriculture 
2:00— 3:00. Physiology. 
3:00— 4:00. State History, 

GENERAL REGULATIONS. 

Passing Grades. At a conference of county super- 
intendents at Charleston in January, 1911, it was 
decided that the passing grade should be an average 
of 80 per cent with no grade below 65 per cent in any 
subject. 

Grading. The grading of the manuscripts is to. 
be done by the county superintendent and two or 
more assistants appointed by him if he desires 
them. The persons so appointed should be of well 
known character and ability and their names should 
be published in' the county papers so that tbe gen- 



Vi 


hr. 


1% 


hr. 


11/2 


hr. 


% 


hr. 


11/2 


hr. 


IVi 


hr. 


1% 


hr. 


1 


hr. 


V2 


hr. 


1 


hr. 


1 


hr. 


1 


hr. 



23 

eral public may know by whom this work is done. 

In the matter of grading great care should be 
exercised. If the grading is too close and severe, 
it will be discouraging to both the pupils and their 
teachers and will chill the ambition and hopes 
of the boys and girls. On the other hand if it is 
too lenient, the efficiency of the whole system will 
be lowered and these diplomas will be worthless. 

The graders should not be too technical, watching 
for small mistakes and overlooking the broad general 
grasp of a subject that a pupil may have, yet no 
pupil should be given a diploma who is notably 
deficient in these things. Before pupils can expect 
to receive diplomas they should be able to write good 
clear English in a legible hand and show definite and 
certain knowledge of the subjects on which they are 
being examined. Under no circumstances should 
any pupil's manuscript be graded by his own teacher. 

Credit for Former Tests. If the pupil takes more 
than one test in a test year, he may have the credit 
for the highest grades in each test at the option of 
the county superintendent. Also at the option of the 
county superintendent pupils may receive credit for 
grades made in tests previous to this year, if these 
grades have been properly recorded. 

SUGGESTIONS TO PUPILS. 

1. The following data should be written at the 
top of each sheet: 

(a) Name of pupil. 

(b) Name of subject. 

(c) Name of school. 

(d) Date. 

2. Write on one side of the paper only. 

3. Number the answers to correspond to the 
questions. 

4. All manuscripts should be written in ink. 

5. In arithmetic complete solutions should be 
given. 

6. No two pupils taking the tests should sit at the 
same desk. 

7. Pupils should not be permitted to leave the 
room or communicate with any one except the per- 
son conducting the test. 

S. Pupils should not ask the examiner to explain 
or give information or opinions about questions. 
Any reasonable interpretation of the questions will 
be accepted. 

9. Pupils should not use books, notes or help of 
any kind. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



019 763 712 2 



